Stephen Edward Mitchell

Stephen Edward Mitchell, 71, of Benton Harbor passed away, Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at Lakeland Medical Center in Saint Joseph.

Stephen was born March 11, 1948, in Benton Harbor to Don and Katherine Mitchell the youngest of eight siblings. He married Marlene Piggee, July 8, 1972, and was the father of four children. Stephen attended the Benton Harbor Area School System graduating from high school in 1966. After graduating from high school, he played professional baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He attended Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University. He was a member of Omega Psi Phi. After returning to Benton Harbor 1974, he was employed as Director of Security for the Benton Harbor School district. In 1988, he was promoted to the Director of Operations and Facilities, where he stayed until retiring in 2008. Currently, he was working as a courtesy driver for Signature Toyota.

He was appointed to the Benton Harbor School Board in January 2015 and ran unopposed the following year. He currently was serving as President of the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education.

He is survived by his wife, Marlene; three children, Antonio (Michelle) Mitchell, Desmond Mitchell and Lisa Ash; two sisters, Diane (Joseph) Defrance of St. Joseph, and Kathleen Bowman of Lakeland, Florida; three brothers, Dwight (Margo), Mitchell, Duane (Perona) Mitchell and Don (Jeri) Mitchell of Benton Harbor; daughter-in-law, Shiree Mitchell; 9 grandchildren; Darius Lane of Grand Rapids, Tamara Ferguson of Muskegon, Arron Reynolds of Grand Rapids; Danielle Mitchell of Kalamazoo, Antonio, II, Mitchell of Kalamazoo, Davion Marquis Kelli) Mitchell of St. Joseph, Domoneke (Haley) Mitchell of Kalamazoo, Ashley Mitchell, Charles Williams both of Benton Harbor; and Desmond, Jr. of Indianapolis, Indiana and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, David (Shiree) Mitchell, one sister, Janice (Francis) Baker and one brother, Gary (Minnie) Mitchell.

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